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Tuesday, April 2, 2013

WrestleMania 29: PWI Staff Picks

Some questions surrounding this Sunday’s WrestleMania are
tough to answer. How will WWE keep its wrestlers warm in 40-degree
temperatures? What color shirt will John Cena unveil? How long will it take The
Undertaker to beat CM Punk?

Still, our staff members believe they have the answers to
who will come out victorious in the show’s matches. Here are there picks:

Wade Barrett vs. The Miz
for the Intercontinental championship

Stu Saks: The Miz

Dan Murphy: The Miz

Harry Burkett: Wade Barrett

Al Castle: The Miz

Dave Lenker: Wade Barrett

Louie Dee: Wade Barrett

Kevin McElvaney: Wade
Barrett

Mike Bessler: The Miz

Commentary: Our staff is evenly split on who will come away with the
Intercontinental title at WrestleMania. On one hand, the “Barrett Barrage” has
shown no signs of slowing down. On the other, WWE seems insistent on having The
Miz win over fans. Kicking off the biggest show of the year with a title victory
would be an important step in that direction.

Commentary: The PWI team is
solidly behind “Tons Of Funk” to get the duke in what will likely be more of a
feel-good dance party than an actual wrestling match. Whatever the case, let’s
hope Brodus leaves his Momma dance troop at home this time.

Chris Jericho vs.
Fandango

Stu Saks: Chris Jericho

Dan Murphy: Fandango

Harry Burkett: Chris Jericho

Al Castle: Chris Jericho

Dave Lenker: Fandango

Louie Dee: Fandango

Kevin McElvaney: Chris
Jericho

Mike Bessler: Chris Jericho

Commentary: With his ridiculous new character, it’s hard to take Fandango
seriously. And so we are not. As logical as it would seem for WWE to give a
newcomer an important win in his first match, we’re not sold on the former
Johnny Curtis having what it takes to beat a world-class wrestler like Jericho
on such a big stage.

Commentary: It’s only appropriate that half our staff would answer the question
of whether Team Hell No will retain the tag championship with an emphatic
“Yes!” while the other half would reply with a firm “No!” Even if Ziggler comes
up short in this title match, he may just leave MetLife Stadium with another
championship, courtesy of that dusty briefcase he’s been lugging around since
July.

Mark Henry vs. Ryback

Stu Saks: Ryback

Dan Murphy: Ryback

Harry Burkett: Ryback

Al Castle: Ryback

Dave Lenker: Mark Henry

Louie Dee: Ryback

Kevin McElvaney: Mark Henry

Mike Bessler: Mark Henry

Commentary: Most of our staff is convinced that the “Big Hungry” will scarf
down his biggest meal to date at WrestleMania in the form of the 400-pound
Henry. But a few are counting on the “World’s Strongest Man” dealing Ryback a
rare singles defeat in one of his biggest matches to date. Don’t look for this
one to be particularly pretty, but you can’t count on some amazing feats of
strength.

The Shield vs. Randy
Orton, Sheamus, & Big Show

Stu Saks: The Shield

Dan Murphy: Orton, Sheamus,
& Show

Harry Burkett: The Shield

Al Castle: The Shield

Dave Lenker: Orton, Sheamus,
& Show

Louie Dee: The Shield

Kevin McElvaney: The Shield

Mike Bessler: Orton, Sheamus,
& Show

Commentary: WWE’s rogue law enforcers will continue their reign of terror,
according to most of the PWI staff.
Orton, Sheamus, and The Big Show may represent The Shield’s biggest challenge
to date, but they can’t seem to get on the same page. It will take a truly
unified front to bring down The Shield.

Alberto Del Rio vs. Jack
Swagger for the World championship

Stu Saks: Alberto Del Rio

Dan Murphy: Jack Swagger

Harry Burkett: Jack Swagger

Al Castle: Jack Swagger

Dave Lenker: Alberto Del Rio

Louie Dee: Alberto Del Rio

Kevin McElvaney: Alberto Del
Rio

Mike Bessler: Alberto Del
Rio

Commentary: WWE seems high on Del Rio’s potential as a superhero for its
Hispanic audience, and getting the win here over the vile Swagger and his
hate-spewing manager, Zeb Colter, may be key in that effort. We’re counting on
A-D-R to pick up the W-I-N, but aren’t completely ruling out the possibility of
Swagger winning his second World title.

Triple-H vs. Brock Lesnar
in a no-holds-barred match with Triple-H’s career on the line

Stu Saks: Brock Lesnar

Dan Murphy: Triple-H

Harry Burkett: Brock Lesnar

Al Castle: Brock Lesnar

Dave Lenker: Brock Lesnar

Louie Dee: Triple-H

Kevin McElvaney: Triple-H

Mike Bessler: Triple-H

Commentary: Once again, we’re evenly split on the outcome of this high-stakes
showdown. To keep Brock Lesnar’s reputation in tact as wrestling’s most
dangerous man, a win here seems almost necessary—especially after having
already lost one of his only two matches since returning to WWE a year ago.
And, really, given Triple-H’s scarce television appearance, an official
retirement is only a formality. That said, with the honor of his best friend
Shawn Michaels, his wife Stephanie, his father-in-law Vince McMahon on the
line, it’s hard to picture “The Game” losing.

The Undertaker vs. C.M.
Punk

Stu Saks: The Undertaker

Dan Murphy: The Undertaker

Harry Burkett: The Undertaker

Al Castle: The Undertaker

Dave Lenker: The Undertaker

Louie Dee: The Undertaker

Kevin McElvaney: The
Undertaker

Mike Bessler: The Undertaker

Commentary: None of us are buying that wrestling’s most revered winning streak
will come to an end at the hands of CM Punk. But while the outcome may be a given,
we’re still excited about what will likely be match of the night, and maybe,
match of the year. And when 21-0 flashes on the Tron, we’re confident that,
from somewhere, Paul Bearer will be watching with pride.

The Rock vs. John Cena for the WWE championship

Stu Saks: John Cena

Dan Murphy: John Cena

Harry Burkett: John Cena

Al Castle: John Cena

Dave Lenker: The Rock

Louie Dee: John Cena

Kevin McElvaney: John Cena

Mike Bessler: John Cena

Commentary: All signs are pointing to John Cena getting redemption, and the WWE
heavyweight title, on Sunday night. Although the sequel may lack some of the
intrigue of the original, the sport’s most prestigious championship is sure to
up the stakes exponentially. A thrilling bout is almost guaranteed. The bigger
question may be: When do we get the rubber match?